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Now that the first wave of hype has died down over Apple’s latest
smartphones, the criticisms are starting to roll in. In what the
Twitterverse has dubbed “ Bendgate ” or “ Bendghazi,” some customers are noticing
that their new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus devices are bending
after a few days’ use.

The phones tend to curve at the top end of the device, where the
cut-outs in the aluminum casing provide access to the phone’s
side buttons. Unlike the LG Flex or the Samsung Galaxy Round,
which have purposely curved displays, Apple’s new products are
supposed to remain rigid and flat.

One owner explained on the MacRumors forum that his
phone bent after he drove four hours each way to a wedding and
sat through the ceremony with the phone in his front pocket.
He only noticed the damage after he placed his phone on a
table and saw that a reflection in the screen seemed
distorted. MacRumors reports that phones from other companies
had had similar problems and that users should remove them
from their pockets before sitting. If this isn’t possible, the
site said, a roomier pocket would be helpful.

The video below, posted by Unbox Therapy, appears to show a man
bending the iPhone 6 Plus with his bare hands.

In a follow-up video, the same man tries to bend the Samsung
Galaxy Note 3, similar in size to the iPhone 6. It held up.

So, why is the product bending? An article published by BetaNews.com
explains that the light weight of the device,
combined with its thin profile and added surface area, is
a recipe for bending under force and pressure. A more rigid
material like plastic would hold its shape better. Mashable agrees. Since the products are
made with lighter and more malleable aluminum, however, a hard
case would help protect it.

Apple has not yet responded to the issue, so it’s unclear if it
will accept returns for bent -- but still functioning -- iPhones.